12 
For the Monthly Magazine. 
OBSERVATIONS on the GALLERY of DUS- 
SELDORF.* Ina LETTER to a FRIEND, 
by T. C. BRUUN NEERGAARD. 
VA NUE gallery of Dusseldorf is placed in 
a wing of the palace built in 1710 by 
the Elector Palatine John William. It has 
not been injured by the war, though the 
rest of the palace was laid in ruins by the 
bombardment of the second of October 
1794. It appears that the French ima- 
gined the pictures were still there, and 
spared it only from the natural respect 
whichisdueto thearts. The prudent direc- 
tors, foreseeing the dangers to which they 
were likely to he exposed, had been em- 
ployed for a fortnight before in packing 
up the whole collection, consisting of three 
hundred and sixty-five pictures, which 
they sent off the day before the bombard- 
ment, for Gluckstadt in Holstem. The 
period of their emigration was six years 
and a half. The gallery was saved and 
accompanied by the inspector, professor 
Brulliot. Its removal and conveyance 
cost more than 400,000 francs (nearly 
£17,000 sterling). Since its return, the 
whole is nearly restored to its former or- 
der. 
Tt was John William who began to 
form this gallery.» Being a passionate ad- 
mirer of the arts, he invited to his resi- 
dence several celebrated painters, among 
whom were distinguished Vanderwerff, 
Schalcken, and Weenix, whose most va- 
luable productions arg comprized in this 
collection. Charles Theodore yreatly 
augmented it, and hkewise had it properly 
arranged. 
The three hundred and sixty-five pic- 
tures are judiciously placed in six contigu= 
ous apartments; and as there was not 
sufficient room, it has been found neces- 
sary to hang some of them upon the doors 
and the shutters. 
The collection of Dusseldorfhas always 
been distinguished for numerous produc- 
tions of the Flemish schoo!; it contains 
many pieces by Vandyke, Rubens, Vander- 
werff and Schalcken, andalmostall of their 
besttime. We also find here some beau- 
* Dusseldorf having been made the capi- 
tal of ‘the grand duchy of Berg, in the late 
partition of Germany, and transferred from 
the Elector of Bavaria to the French General 
Wurat, this’ Gallery, as. well as that of 
Mannheim, has been removed to Munich, the 
capital of the new kingdom of Bavaria. It 
may be necessary to ‘observe that this letter 
was written in the year 1803, and the re- 
moval of the Gallery, by order of the King of 
Bavaria, took place in 1806. Translator. 
Observations on the Galléry of Duisseldorf. 
« Ehas Haid in 1782. 
fPeb. i, 
tiful pictures of the Italian school. Iwill 
mention some of them; I had seen so 
many and of so much excellence at Paris 
that you must pardon me for being rather 
fastidious. Ishall treat mere amply of 
the Flemish school, which particularly at- 
tracted my notice, and which I examined 
more in detail. 
The first picture which excited my ad- 
miration was that of the Wise and Fool- 
ish Virgins, by Schalcken. I have seen 
many of this master’s productions; but 
T never could forget his defects in design 
and expression till I beheld this picture. 
The effects of the light and chiaro-oscuro 
are expressed with such magnificence, 
that I was at a loss to what masterto as- 
cribe it, so much has Schalcken surpassed 
himself m this composition. Forster as- 
serts that there are still superior perform- 
ances of this master at Cassel, but it isso 
long since I saw them, that I cannot un- 
dertake to contradict him, notwithstand- 
ing my desire todo so. This picture of 
the Virgins represents eightof them: The 
five first are proceeding gaily with their 
lamps burning. ‘Three others behind 
them, are at a loss how to extricate 
themselves from their dilemma; oneis on 
her knees, her lamp is nearly extinguished, 
and she appears to be begging a little oil 
of her joyous compautons; another, whose 
lamp has gone out, with clasped hands, im- 
plores their assistance, whilst the third in 
vain blows on he’s for the purpose of. 
making it light again. A spark, which 
has fallen from the lamp, is still burning, 
{ 
and so perfect is the illusion, that one is 
tempted to extinguish it. The feeble 
flame of the dying lamp, the effect of that 
which is blown in vain, and the reflections 
which fall upon the three Virgins in the 
centre, astonished me the most in this 
chef @euvre. ‘this picture, which is two 
feet eleven inches high, and three feet 
six Inches wide, has been twice engraved, 
first by V. Green, and afterwards by John 
There are three 
other pictures by the same master, who 
lived for saing time with the Elector John 
William. 
Though the painter of history in gene- 
rai surpasses the painter of manners, from 
the grand and,noble syle in which he re- 
presents hisswjects ; the painter of man= 
ners may likewise sometimes excel his 
rivals; and Gerard Douw, in his famous 
Mountebank, confirms this opinion, I sel- 
dom dwell on picteres of manners; where 
historical subjects call my attention, a ra=. 
pid glance is sufficient, and I turn again to 
history; but this mountebaak selling his 
cps ase ie ia dons * nostrums 
